Delivery crate or case.



T. V. BOARDMAN.

DELIVERY CRATE 0R CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1916.

1,210,405. Patented Jan. 2,1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

T. V. BOARDMAN.

DELIVERY CRATE 0R CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. 1916.

1,210,405. Patented Jan. 2,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- S raw THOMAS V. BOARDMAN, BIRMTN'GI-IAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOB T0 AMERICAN BOX AND CRATE COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TEN- NESSEE.

Application filed March 11, 1916.

To all whom it may-concern Be it known that I, THOMAS V. BOARD MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham,Jeiferson county, State'of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Delivery Crates or Cases, of which the following is a specifica tion.

The present invention relates to improvements in delivery crates or-cases, particularly such as are adapted for receiving a se-' ries of bottles or jars.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character which will be strong and durable without being unduly heavy; in which the several division members by which the compartments or receptacles are surrounded will be'firmly braced; and which may be easily and thoroughly sterilized and maintained in sanitary condi tion.

In the accompanying drawings,'Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crate or case con structed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through such crate; Fig. 3 is an elevation, and partial section on the line 33 of Fig. 4 of a portion of one of the partitions, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line-44 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the case or crate; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a section of the metal members forming the bottle or jar receiving receptacles; Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the manner in which two of the improved crates may be stacked one upon-the other; Fig. 8 is a detail view; Fig. 9 is a view in section of a modification; Fig. 10 is a similar view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9. 4

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the crate comprises an inclosing frame 1, which may be of wood, or metal, and provided with any suitable means for carrying it, such as the hand holes shown in Fig. 1. The crate is provided with a metal bottom preferably formed of strips 2 connected with the ends of-the framel andfinterlocked as hereinafter described with the partitions, which extend transversely across the frame from one side thereof to the other and form, with suitable connecting-bars, the receptacles or compartments for the articles to be transported in the crate. Asv shown, each of the partitions is formed from a suitable metal Specification of Letters Batent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917..

Serial No. 83,554.

blank 4, the top and bottom edges of which are rolled upon saidbody'to form tubular beads and within said beads are arranged rods 5 which project beyond the ends of the body of the partition through openings in opposite sides of the frame 1 and are bent or clenched at their outer ends to secure the partitions in place. Each of the partitions has formed in the body thereof two series or sets of openings 6, 7 the upper series 6 eX- tending vertically while the lower series extends horizontally. Preferably as shown each of .said slots or openings is of substantially U-shape and the tongue 6*, 7 thereby formed extend respectively through slots in the connecting bars hereinafter referred to and slots in the bottom strips 2. As shown, the tongues 7' may be bent over against the upper face of the bottom strips to more securely connect the latter to the partitions 4. The bottom strips 2, as shown, are of the same type or character as the partitions, that is, each comprises a fiatbody which'is provided at its sides with tubular beads in which are arranged rods 2*, which project through the ends of the frame 1 and are'bent over or clenched, against the outer surface thereof. As shown, each of said bottom strips is provided with a series of circular apertures 8, one within each of the compartments, or cells, provided in the crate, through which the neck of a bottle may be passed so that the bottles will be supported in an inverted position in the crate, as represented in Fig. 7 The slots 7 in the. partitions are arranged out of alinement with the vertical slots 6-therein and so spaced that the severalbottom strips will be separated one from another. 7 The slots 6 in alternating partitions are reversely arranged so that the closed ends of the horizontal limb portionsthereof are in alinement and through said slotsextend the connecting bars 9 which interlock with andbracethe several partitions. Said bars are formed similar to the partitions 4 and bottom strips each comprising a metal body having tubular heads, at its top and bottom edges, in which are arranged rods9 which extend through the ends of the frame 1 and are secured thereto, as are the rods 2* and 5. As before noted, each bar 9 is provided at intervals with slots which receive the tongues 6 of the partitions and owing to the relative arrangement of said slots, previously tions, connecting bars and bottom strips are first assembled and thereafter the sides and ends of the inclosing frame placed in positime so that the several rods will extend through openings provided therefor in said frame. It will be seen that the metal mem bers of the device are so interlocked with each other and connected to the inclosing frame as to provide a very strong device having a minimum weight. The bottom strips being of metal as well as the partitions and connection bars enables the device to be thoroughly and readily sterilized, for example by being dipped in a suitable solution, and the bottom being open there is no danger of dirt of any character collecting therein so that a thoroughly sanitary delivery crate or case is provided.

' If desired, the frame 1 may be of metal and in such event, as shown in Fig. 8, the rods by which the several partitions, connecting bars and bottom strips are secured thereto may have their outer ends passed twice through the proper side wall and riveted or clenched against the inner face thereof.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bottom strips are preferablyarranged at such height from the lower edges of members of the frame 1 that the bottles placed therein in inverted position will extend somewhat above the top of said frame and thus serve as a means for preventing lateral movement of one crate relative to another when two or more are stacked.

v Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a slightly different embodiment of the invention, this form being particularly adapted for bottlesor jars which cannot be inverted, for example milk jars. In this embodiment of the invention the bottom strips 2 are arranged relatively near the lower edges of the frame 1, which is not of as great depth as in the form of the invention shown in the other figures and said bottom strips are continuous from end to end, except for the slots provided to receive the tongues 7 In this embodiment of the invention the rods 5 of the partitions extend through grooves 1 in the upper edges of the sides of the frame,said partitions being substantially as wide or high as the depth of said frame.

The manner of using and advantages of a case or crate constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily appreciated.

" It will be seen that the engagement of the tonguesfi with the slots in the connecting bars 9 and the arrangement of said slots 6 in the different partitions whereby alternate partitions bear against opposite faces of positively prevented.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a crate of the character described, the combination of aninclosing frame, a plurality of metal bottom strips attached to the frame, and means for dividing the space within the frame, above the bottom strips, into a series of receptacles comprising two series of vertically extending metal members secured respectively to the sides and ends of the frame, one series of said members extending through slots in the other series and the slotted members alternately contacting with opposite faces of the members extending therethrough,

2. In a'crate of the character described,

the combination of an inclosing frame, a'

plurality of metal partitions extending from one side of the frame to the opposite side, metal bars connected with the ends of the box and each interlocked with all of the partitions, a plurality of metal bottom strips extending through alined openings in the partitions, and having their ends connected with the frame, each bottom strip being interlocked with each partition by a tongue on one of said parts extending through a slot in the other. v

3. In a crate'of the character described, the combination of an inclosing frame, a plurality of metal partitions extending from one side of the frame to the opposite side, metal bars connected with the ends of the box and each interlocked with all of the partitions, and a plurality of metal bottom strips extending through alined openings in the partitions and having their ends connected with the frame, each partitionjhavingv a tongue extending through a slot in the bottom strip and bent over against a face of the strip. I

l. In a crate of thercharacter described,

the combination with an inclosing frame,

and means for supporting articles therein,

of means dividing the space withinlthe frame Kittie series of compartments com prising a plurality of metal partitions secured at their ends to opposite sides of the frame and each provided with a substantially U-shaped slot or opening, said slots being reversely positioned in alternating partitions and so situated that the closed ends of the limb portions thereof are in alinement throughout the series, and a metal bar extending through the openings in the partitions and provided with slots receiving the tongues formed by said openings.

6. In a crate of the character described, the combination with an inclosing frame, and means for supporting articles therein, of means dividing the space within the frame into a series of compartments comprising a plurality of metal partitions secured at their ends to opposite sides of the frame and each provided with a plurality of slots or openings, a plurality of metal bars each extending through said slots or openings in all of the partitions, the partitions and bars being so related that the partitions alternately contact with opposite faces of the bars.

7. In a crate of the character described, the combination of an inclosing frame, a bottom, and two sets of vertically extending metal partitions each comprising a sheet metal body having tubular beads at its top and bottom edges and rods extending through said beads and secured at their ends directly to the inclosing frame, the members of one set of partitions extending through slots formed in the bodies of all of the members of the other set.

8. In a crate of the character described, the combination of an inclosing frame, partitions extending from one side of the frame to the opposite side and each comprising a metal body, having tubular beads at its top and bottom edges, and rods arranged within said beads and projecting beyond the ends of the body of the partitions, through the sides of the frame, metal bars connecting the ends of the frame and each extending through and interlocked with all of the par titions, and metal bottom strips extending from one end of the frame to the other and through each of the partitions above the beads at the bottom edges thereof.

9. In a crate of the character described, the combination of an inclosing frame, a plurality of metal partitions secured at their ends to opposite sides of the frame and each provided with two sets of slots or openings, those of one set extending substantially at right angles to and situated out of alinement, transversely of the partition, with those of the other set, metal bottom strips extending through one of said sets of slots and secured at their ends to the frame, and metal bars extending through the other slots in the partitions and forming with the partitions sides for a series of compartments.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with an inclosing frame, of metal partitions and fiat bars therein crossing each other and interlocked at right angles to form compartments the bars being narrower than and passing through the upper portion of the partitions, the partitions being provided with U-shaped slots in their lower portions with the tongues formed by the slots extending upwardly, and bottom strips passing through said U-shaped slots and provided with transverse slots through which the tongues pass.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with an inclosing frame of vertical partitions and vertical fiat bars therein crossing each other at right angles, the partitions being wider than the bars and the bars having transverse slots therein at intervals and the partitions having U-shaped slots at intervals and the bars passing through the U-shaped slots of the partitions with the tongues formed by the U-shaped slots projecting through the transverse slots of the bars, and said partitions having U- shaped slots along their bottom portions in line between the bars, and bottom strips provided with transverse slots extending through said partitions with the tongues formed by said last named U-shaped slots extending through the slots in said bottom strips.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with an inclosing frame of vertical partitions and vertical flat bars therein crossing each other at right angles, the par titions being wider than the bars and the bars having transverse slots therein at in tervals and the partitions having U-shaped slots at intervals and the bars passing through the U-shaped slots of the partitions with the tongues formed by the U-shaped slots projecting through the transverse slots of the bars, the adjacent partitions having the U-shaped slots facing in opposite directions whereby the partitions and bars will be locked together, the said partitions being made of sheet metal and provided with beads at their edges and rods or wires passing through said beads and secured to said frame.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS V. BOARDMAN.

@opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

